Cabinet for laces, ribbons, and the like.



L M. PAGE.

CABINET FOR LACES, RIBBONS, AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 10. 1914.

4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

614102 may 5 THE Q'OLUMBIA PLANOCIRAPH .CQ-I WASHINGTON,- D. C.

. PAGE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 10. 19M. 1., 175,658. Patented Mar. 14, 1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Snow W041 rm; whuamm PLANOGRAPH p0,, WASHINGTON, D. c.

L.- M. PAGE.

CABINET FOR LACES, RIBBONS, AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATIONFILED JAN. l0 i914- Patented Mar. 14, 1916.

4 SHEETS-$HEET 3.

atfozneqs THE COLUMBIA PLANDURAP'H co., WASHINGTON, D. c.

L. M. PAGE.

CABI'NET FOR LACES, masons, AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 10, 1914- I 1 175 658 Patented Mar. 14, 1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

Qmmmw I 0 g Q i I THE COLUMBlA PLANOGRAPH c0., \VAISHINGTON, n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEE M. PAGE, OF SAMSON, ALABAMA.

' CABINET FOR LACES, RIBBONS AND THE LIKE.

Specificationof Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 14, 1916.

Application filed January 10, 1914. SeriaINo. 811,323.

' is specification, reference being had therein to theaccompanying drawings. 1

T his invention has for its general object to provide a compact and convenient cabinet orzcase for use'ain shops and similar places for the purpose of. storing laces, ribbons-and the like and delivering the same ,as may be required, saidycabinet being capable ofcontaining afconsiderable quantity of materials of diiferent kinds and being preferably provided with meansor mechanisms whereby any desired ,pieceor kind of material maybe rendered readily available, the amount withdrawn measured, and an'inventory automatically kept of the amount.remaining.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention, together with means whereby the same may be carried into effect, will best be understood from the following description of one form or embodiment thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It will be understood, however, that the particular construction described and shown has been chosen for illustrative purposes merely, and. that the invention is in no wise limited to such particular construction but may be otherwise practised without departing from the spirit andxscopethereof as defined by the claims hereunto appended.

In said drawings: Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view on the line l1,Fig'. 2','of an apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a frontelevation partly broken away.v Figs. 3-and 4 are, respectively, enlarged rear and side elevations, partly broken away. of a portion of the measuring device. Fig. 51s a detail view of a portion=of the adjustable stop screw forming a part .ofthe stop mechanism for the automatic measuring device. Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of one of the reel holders showing the register there on. and illustrating the cooperation of this register with the measuring .device. Fig. 7

is an enlarged front elevation. partlvbroken aw-ay',:.of a .p'ortionof oneaoftheireel holders.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged plan view of the register forming a part of the measuring device.

The invention is herein shown as embodied in a cabinet particularly adapted for the use of storing and dispensing laces.

90 denotes a framework for supporting the various moving parts and 21 a casing for inclosing the same. The framework and casingmay be of any desired form and size according to the requirements. The casing may be composed of wood, metal, glass, or

any suitablematerial as may be desired, and

is providedv at the front or other s itable point with a delivery opening 29, Fig. 2, through which the contents of the cabinet may be withdrawn.

The laces or the like are wound upon reels or spools 22 constituting storing devices and rotatably mounted in supports or holders 23 which are, in turn, mounted upon a carrier, herein shown as comprising two continuous sprocket chains 24. Each sprocket chain passes about sprocket wheels 25 and 26, said sprocket wheels being of a suitable number and suitably disposed in accordance with the form .or, shape of the apparatus as a whole. so as to provide for sprocket chains 24 of considerable length. The sprocket wheels for the two chains are similarly arranged in pairsat opposite sidesof the frame, and the wheels of one or more pairs are rigidly secured to a shaft or shafts journaled in the framework, so as to cause movement of the chains to be in. unison. A s herein shown the sprocket wheels 25 are fixed to shafts 26 journaled in preferably antlfrietion bearings 27 on the framework. The sprocket wheels 26 may, as herein shown, be journaled upon studs28 projecting from the framework.

The chains 24 are provided at suitable points with studs or pins 30 from which the supports or holders are hung, by means of hangers 31, in such a manner as to cause said hclders to maintain upright positions in all' positions of the chains 24, as shown most clearly in Fig. 1. The hangers 31 are preferably composed of resilient material, so that, by springing the same inwardly from the positions shown in Fig. 2. they may be disengaged from the'pins 30 and the holders '23 detached from the chains 2 Each holder 23 comprises a longitudinal frameextending crosswise ofthe apparatus from one of the chains 24: to the other, said frame being provided with asuitable number of transverse members or uprights 32 in which the reels or spools 22 are j ournaled. Each reel 22 is preferably provided at one end with a projecting stud or pivot 33 (see Fig. 7) adapted to enter a suitable socket 34 in the adjacent uprights 32, and at its opposite end with a recess 35 adapted to receive the end of a stud 36 projecting from the opposite upright 32. 37 denotes springs surrounding the studs 36 and interposed between the ends 38 of the reels 22 and nuts 39 on threaded portions of the studs 36. By this construction each reel 22 is detachably and rotatably mounted in the support independently of the others. In order to remove a reel for the purpose of replenishing or changing the same, said reel is moved toward the right, as shown in Fig. 7, against the tensionof the spring 37, thereby disengaging the pivot 33 from the socket 34, w iereupon said reel may be turned sidewise and the recess 35 disengaged from the stud 36, these operations being reversed when inserting a reel in the holder. By means of the nuts 39 the tension of the spring 37 may,

be adjusted as desired, although said nuts may, of course, be omitted and the springs allowed to hear at their ends directly uponthe adjacent faces of the uprights 32 if pre ferred.

Any suitable or desired number of holders 23 may, of course, be provided, and each of said holders may carry any desired number of reels or storing devices 22. In the construction herein shown thirteen holders each carrying ten reels are employed, thus providing for one hundred and thirty reels and a similar number of diiferent pieces of lace.

Preferably a sample book or card will be employed in connection with the cabinet, the samples being identified by number or otherwise, corresponding identifying characters or symbols being applied to the several reels within the cabinet, so that the selection of the purchaser may be made by sample without requiring access to the reels within the cabinet. As herein shown the several holders are consecutively numbered from 0 to 12, while the several reels on each holder are also consecutively numbered, those on holder No. 0 being numbered from 1 to 10, inclusive, those on holder No. 1 from 11 to 20, inclusive, and so on. The identifying numerals may be applied to the holders in any desired or convenient way. lVhere the casing is wholly or in part of glass or other transparent material the numbers for the several holders may be placed on the ends of the holders, as shown in Fig. 1, and the numerals for the individual reels on the tops of the upper longitudinal frame members 40 of said holders. Preferably, however, and.

as shown in Fig. 2, these numerals are all placed at suitable points on the forward sides of the holders so as to be visible through the delivery opening 29 at the front of the casing. The purchaser having made the desired selection from the sample book or card, and the number of the desired material having been noted, the carriers or chains .24 are moved, by means hereinafter more operative position opposite the opening 29,-

permitting material to be drawn from any of the reels numbered from 1 to 10, inclusive.

httounted" iii-brackets ell projecting from the framework are rods 42, as constituting a guide extending across from side to side of the apparatus adjacent the delivery opening 29. Slidably mounted on the rods d2, a3 and movable to any desired position transversely of the cabinet, is a measuring device designated as a whole by the numeral 44. By moving said measuring device transversely ofthe opening 29 said device may be brought opposite any desired storing device or reel 22 on the holder which is in operative position adjacent said opening. In order to provide for the convenient positioning of the measuring device said device is preferably provided with a latch 45 (see Fig. 2) adapted to engage with any one of a series of notches .46 in the rod 4L2 suitably located with respect to the storing devices 22. The measuring device (see particularly Figs. 3 and 4) comprises a pair of uprights 4:7 in which are journaled a measuring roller dSand a pressure roller 4:9. The measuring roller 48 is fixed upon a shaft 50 journaled in the uprights M and is provided with a gripping 'or anti-slipping surface of any suitable character, as by forming said surface with projections as shown in Figs. 2 and3, or by providing a smooth surface as shown in Fig. 4; and covering-the same with a suitable friction material, such as rubber. The roller 49 is mounted on a shaft 51 the ends of which are received in slots inthe uprights 4:7 and are engaged by springs 53, the opposite ends of which are secured to said uprights, whereby said roller 49 is yieldingly pressed toward the roller l8, but

may be separated therefrom in order to permit the insertion between said rollers of the material to be measured. The measuring roller 48 is provided with an arm or. tappet 5d (see Figs. 2 and 4t) adapted, at each conr plete rotation of said roller, to engage the operating arm of a register 56 (see Figs. 1, 2 and 8)'securcd to the top of one of the uprights 47, said operating arm 55 being normally held against a stop pin 57 in the azraeae position shown in Fig. 4, by means of a spring 58. The register 56 is arranged tobe actuated at each operation of the arm 55 an amount corresponding to the length of the periphery of the measuring roller 48. Preferably said roller will have a circumference of nine inches, while the register 56, which is preferably arranged to register in yards and fractions, as shown in Fig. 8, is so arranged that at each actuation thereof the amount registered thereby will be increased one quarter of one unit.

Each of the holders 23, as shown in Fig. 2, is provided with a plurality of registers 59 equal in number to the storing devices or reels 22 in such holder, said registers being preferably secured to the uprights 32. Each of said registers 59 is provided with an operating arm 60 (see Figs. 1 and 6) normally held in the position shown by a spring 61. The registers 59 are or may be precisely similar to the register 56 except that they are arranged to register backwardly or in a retrograde direction, so that each actuation of an arm 60 against the tension of its spring 61 the amount indicated by the corresponding register will be diminished by one unit or fraction of a unit as the case may be. The arrangement is such that when the measuring device 44 is in operative position adjacent one of the storing devices on the holder 23 at that time in operative position at the front of the casing, the arm 60 of the register 59 corresponding to the storing device in question will lie in the path of movement of the tappet 54 on the measuring roller 48. Each of the registers 59 is initially set to indicate the amount of material originally placed in or on the corresponding storing device or reel 22. WVhen material is withdrawn from any reel through the measuring device 44, said measuring device is operated and in turn actuates the corresponding register 59 in a reverse or retrograde direction, the amount of such actuation corresponding to the amount of material withdrawn, so that each of the registers 59 will at all times correctly indicate the amount of material remaining on the corresponding reel 22. It will thus be seen that an inventory of all the material in the machine at any time can easily and quickly be made merely by reading the registers 59.

Preferably and as herein shown mechanism is provided for actuating the measuring device, said mechanism being capable of being set or adjusted to cause said measuring device automatically to draw off any predetermined amount of material from the adjacent reel. A convenient form of mechanism of this character is illustrated in Figs. 3, 4 and 5. 62 denotes a framework secured to and supported by one of the uprights 47 of the measuring device. Mounted in the framework 62. is .a spring or other motor 63 connected by gears 64,65 with the shaft 50 of the measuring roller 48, said shaft being, if desired, connected through gears 66 and 67 with an escapement wheel 68, Fig. 4, adapted to coiiperate with a pallet (not shown) for the purpose of controlling movement of said shaft. The shaft 50 is also connected through gears 69, 7 0 and 71 with a shaft 72 carrying at its end a pinion 73. Meshing with the pinion 73 is a gear 74 having a hub 75 provided with internal screw threads which coiiperate with the threads of a screw 76 arranged to slide longitudinally in a sleeve 77 carried by or formed integral with the framework 62. The screw 76 is formed with a longitudinal groove or way 78 (see Fig. 5) which receives a key or spline 79 (see Fig. 4) on the inside of the sleeve 77, so that said screw 76, while freely movable longitudinally in the sleeve 77, is prevented from turning therein. The screw 76 is further provided with a head 80 adapted, when said screw reaches the limit of its movement toward the left as shown in Fig. 3, to engage th hub 75 of the gear 74. Said gear 74 is formed in two parts connected by a link 81 and latch 82, while the hub thereof is formed with an internal groove which receives an annular flange 83 on the framework 62 at the end of the sleeve 77, whereby when the latch v82 is fastened said gear 74 will be rotatably secured to said framework and clamped in operative position about said screw. Within the groove 78 the screw 76 is provided with graduations, said graduations (as shown in Fig. 5) representing yards and fractions thereof.

The operation of this automatic measuring attachment is as follows: The measuring device 44 having been brought adjacent the storing device or reel 22 from which it is desired to draw a measured quantity of material, the latch 82 is released, the parts of the gear 74 separated, and the screw 76 drawn outwardly to a point at which the figure in the groove 78 corresponding to the amount of material desired appears at the edge of the hub 75. As shown in Fig. 2 the parts are adjusted to measure off two and one-half yards of miterial. The two halves of the gear 74 are thereupon closed about the screw 76, the latch 82 made fast, the end of the material to be measured inserted between the rollers 48 and 49, and the motor 63 started. Said motor, through the gears 64 and 65,. will thereupon rotate the roller 48, causing the material to be drawn from the reel 22. Rotation of the shaft 50, through the gears 69, and 71, shaft 72, and pinion 73, causes rotation of the gear 74, and the latter, by engagement of its threaded hub with the screw 76, causes'said screw to be IIlOVtCl longitudinally in the sleeve 7 7. toward the left as shown. in. Fig.

3 until the head 80 is brought 'iiito engagement with the hub 75, whereupon movement of the screw 76 is arrested, and the entire mechanism, including the measuring roller 48, stopped. It will be understood that the arrangement and proportions of the parts are such that when the mechanism is so arrested the measuring roller 48 will have been actuated to the requisite extent to draw off from the reel 22 an amount of material equal to that represented by the initial setting of the screw 76.

\Vhere automatic measuring mechanism such as that last described is employed the register 56 of the measuring device may, if desired, be omitted, and the measuring accomplished solely by the setting of the screw 76. Similarly the automatic mechanism may, if desired, be omitted, the material being manually drawn through the measuring rolls and measured by the re ister 56. Preferably, however, both devices will be employed, the one acting as a'check upon the other, whereby extreme accuracy of operation is insured.

In order to actuate the chains or carrier 24 to bring any desired reel holder into operative position, either or both of the shafts 26 may be turned, as by means of a crank or cranks'applied tnereto. As shown,

, however, in Fig. 2, and indicated'by dotted lines in Fig. 1 an electric or other motor 84 is mounted on a bracket 85 projecting from the framework 90, said motor being provided with a shaft 86 connected by gearing 87 with one of the shafts .26, whereby said shaft may be power actuated. When such a motor is employed forthe purpose of operating the carrier there will preferably be provided, for the purpose of controlling the same, an automatic adjustable'stop mechanism similar to that above described for controlling the measuring device. As shown said stop mechanism comprises a gear 730 corresponding to the pinion 73 and connected by suitable gearing 88 with the shaft 26, a gear 740 meshing with the gear 730 and corresponding to the gear 74, and a screw 7 6O cooperating with the hub of the gear 740 and corresponding to the screw 7 6. Thegraduations 780 on the screw 760, in-

stead of representing yards and fractions,

comprise consecutive numerals as shown in Fig. 2. the arrangement of the parts being such that as the screw is moved from one numeral to the next the carrier 24 will be actuated an amount equal to the distance between two adjacent holders 23; In operation the parts being, for example, in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, with reel holder No. 0 in operative position adjacent the delivery opening 29. if the screw 760 be adjusted (as shown in Fig. 2) to-bring the numeral 9 adjacent the hub of the gear 740 and the motor 84 started, said'motor and the meets mechanism actuated thereby will be auto-i matically stopped when reel carrier No. 9 is brought into operative position, the chains or carriers 24 having been actuatedthrough nine spaces. With reel carrier Nol 9 in operative position it will be obvious that, in

ple is noted by the salesman. The screw 760 is thenadjustedto bring the reel holder containing the reel corresponding to the number in question into operative position,-

and the motor 84 started. As soon asthe desired reel holder is-brought into the position occupied by reelholder No 0 in Figs. 1 and 2, the motor 84., shaft 26 and chains 24 will be automatically stopped by eugagement of the head of the screw 760 with the hub of the gear 740. The measuring device 44 is then moved on the rods 42' and '43 to a position opposite the reel containing the material desired, said measuring device being properly positioned with respect to said reel by engagement of the latch 45 with the corresponding notch. 46. The amount of material desired having been ascertained the screw 76 is drawnoutwardly until the numeral corresponding to this amount appears adjacent the'hub'io of the gear 74. The roller '49 isthen depressed against the tension of the springs 53 and the end of the material inserted betweensaid roller and the roller 48. The motor'63 is then started, whereupon the material is drawn off until the predetermined amount has been obtained, when the rotation of the roller48 is automatically stopped as above explained.

Simultaneously with the withdrawal of the said register accuratelv indicates the amount remaining. During the operation of with drawing the material the roller 48 will also actuate the register 56; so that if the amount indicated'by said register at the beginning of the operation has been observed the accuracy of the operation of the automatic stop mechanism for'the measuring device may be checked. Y

Certain features ofthe cabinet structure and arrangement" herein shown and described are covered by the claims ofa divisional application filed August. 24, 1915, Serial No. 47.074; Also the stop mechanism herein disclosed as employed for the purpose of controlling the measuringdevice and the reel carrier, as to its particular construction, 7967' se. iscovered by another divi- Serial No. 53,958I These 2 structures and mechanisms, except in so far as they enter into combination With and constitute essential parts 01 the measuring and indicating mechanisms which form the subject matter of the present invention, are therefore not claimed herein.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a cabinet of the character described, in combination, a storing device for material, a register associated therewith, and measuring and registering means for indicating the amount of material withdrawn therefrom and operated by such withdrawal, said means having provision for operating said first-named register in a retrograde direction to indicate, at all times, the amount of material remaining in said storing device.

2. In a cabinet of the character described,

a single measuring device, a plurality ofstoring devices for material successively movable into operative position with reference to said measuring device, a register carried by each of said storing devices for indicating the amount of material therein, each of said registers being operable by said measuring device when the corresponding storing device is in operative position with respect thereto.

3. In a cabinet of the character described, a casing having a delivery opening, a single measuring device adjacent said opening, a plurality of reel holders, a carrier for said reel holders movable to present the same successively to said delivery opening into operative position with reference to said measuring device, reels carried by said holders, and registers carried by said holders adjacent said reels respectively for indicating the amount of material on each of said reels, each of said registers being operable by said measuring device when the corresponding reel holder is in operative position with respect thereto.

4. In a cabinet of the character described, a storing device for material, a measuring device comprising a measuring roller and an indicator for measuring and indicating the amount of material Withdrawn from said storing device, a register for indicating the amount of material in said storing device, said register having an operating arm, and means on said measuring roller for engaging and operating said arm.

5. In a cabinet of the character described, in combination, a plurality of storing clevices for material, a plurality of registers associated with said storing devices, respectively, and common measuring and registering means for indicating the amount of material withdrawn from any of said storing devices and operated by such withdrawal, said means having provision for operating the register associated with the storing device from which said material is withdrawn, in a retrograde direction, to indicate, at all times, the amount of material remaining in said storing device.

6. In a cabinet of the character described, in combination, a plurality of storing devices for material, a plurality of registers associated with said storing devices, respectively, and measuring and registering means movable into operative position with reference to any of said storing devices and operated by the withdrawal of material from a storing device in operative relationship thereto to indicate the amount of material so withdrawn, said means having provision for operating the register associated with said storing device in a retrograde direction, to indicate, at all times, the amount of mate rial remaining in said storing device.

7. In a cabinet of the character described, in combination, a plurality of series of storing devices for material movable to bring any one of said series into operative position, a plurality of registers associated with the individual storing devices, respectively, and measuring and registering means movable into operative relationship to any one of the storing devices of a series in operative position, said means being operated by the withdrawal of material from a storing device in operative relationship thereto to indicate the amount of material so withdrawn, and having provision for operating the register associated with said storing device in retrograde direction, to indicate, at all times, the amount of material remaining in said storing device.

8. In a cabinet of the character described, I

a casing having a delivery opening, a plurality of holders, a carrier for said holders movable to present the same successively to said delivery opening, a plurality of storing devices for material in each of said holders, a device for measuring the amount of material withdrawn from a storing device, a guide arranged adjacent said delivery opening upon which said measuring device is movably mounted to bring the same into operative position with reference to any of the storing devices on a holder adjacent said opening, and a register carried by each of said storing devices for indicating the amount of material therein, each of said registers being operable by said measuring device when said measuring device and the corresponding storing device are adjacent one another.

9. In a cabinet of the character described,

a storing device for material, a register for indicating the amount of material in said storing device, a device for measuring the amount of material withdrawn from said storing device, said register being operated by said measuring device, means for actuating said measuring device, and means for controlling said measuring device adjustable to cause the same automatically to discontinue its operation after a predetermined amount of material has been withdrawn from said storing device.

10. The combination with a measuring device, of actuating means therefor, a member rotated by said actuating means, an adjustable, longitudinally movable screw having V WVitnesses threaded engagement with said rotated mem- 10 her, and means for limiting the longitudina movement of said screw. 7 7 r V 1 In testimony whereof I ahix' my signature, in presence of two witnesses. I

LEE M. PAGE.

JNO. D. JAY, Jr., J. E. PARKER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

